Liam Williams to make URC season debut for Scarlets

Liam Williams will make his URC season debut for Scarlets this weekend when they take on Cardiff on Boxing Day.

The Wales international missed the opening block of fixtures after having his appendix removed, but after returning to action for his country during the autumn, the British & Irish Lion will pull on the Scarlets colours on Sunday.

Williams slots in at full-back in a side showing four changes from the team selected for the postponed Heineken Champions Cup tie against Bordeaux.

Johnny McNicholl and Ryan Conbeer are named on the wings.

Elsewhere Wales international Rhys Patchell is set to make his first competitive appearance since October 2020 after being named as one of the backline replacements alongside Kieran Hardy and Ioan Nicholas.

Jonathan Davies captains the team and is once again partnered in midfield by fellow international Scott Williams.Dan Jones begins at fly-half, where he will be joined by British and Irish Lion Gareth Davies. Sam Costelow suffered a shoulder injury in practice, ruling him out of competition.

Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, and new Scotland cap Javan Sebastian form an all-international front row, with Sam Lousi and Tom Price filling out the back row.

Josh Macleod, who was denied a comeback last weekend, is set to make his first appearance since rupturing his Achilles in February.

SCARLETS: 15 Liam Williams; 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Jonathan Davies (capt), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Javan Sebastian, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Tom Price, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 Josh Macleod, 8 Sione Kalamafoni.

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Aaron Shingler, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Ioan Nicholas

Unavailable because of injury: Ken Owens (back), Dan Davis (pectoral muscle), Tom Phillips (knee), Josh Helps (Achilles), James Davies (concussion), Leigh Halfpenny (knee), Corey Baldwin (foot), Tomi Lewis (knee), Lewis Rawlins (concussion), Harri Williams (ankle), Johnny Williams (calf), Joe Roberts (knee), Tyler Morgan (calf), Tom Rogers (hamstring), Sam Costelow (shoulder), Steff Evans (ankle), WillGriff John (ankle).